CFP proposals "An Opportunity For Change," says Seafish
Seafish, the authority on seafood, is hoping the UK seafood industry will have flexibility to operate sustainably and profitably within the European Commission's plans for a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), due to be announced this Wednesday (13 July).
Head of Environment, Philip MacMullen, says the reform of the CFP creates a 'real opportunity for positive change' in the management of EU fisheries, as long as the legislation allows for flexibility within its provisions.
We welcome proposals that could result in the CFP delivering better on its basic commitments to economic, social and environmental sustainability. We simply must have better long-term management of our fish stocks and the wider marine environment, and we believe that the industry as a whole must be given a major role in helping to achieve this.
The issue of discards shows clearly how a 'one size fits all' solution does not work. Even within the same fishery, the level of discards can vary by moving to slightly different grounds.
We believe that the CFP reform should concentrate on high level goals and not be over prescriptive with solutions. We advocate management responsibilities being inclusive, encouraging fishermen to propose their own ideas and become custodians of the sea.
Discards, like the move to maximum sustainable yield (MSY), should involve a series of progressive targets evaluated against an ecological risk assessment. Multiannual management plans should be seeking to achieve MSY for the whole ecosystem, not individual species. If the system isn’t favouring certain species then there’s no point setting hard targets for their stock growth; we have to go at nature’s own pace.
It is certainly reassuring that most of us now are talking the same language. We all want better data on how we impact the marine environment; more transparency and flexibility in decision-making; and an agreed balance between those impacts and conservation – we need to consider our future food security very carefully indeed.
Everyone in the UK seafood industry is are all determined to play our part in making management work better.
Phillip MacMullen
The reduction of discards – a key issue in the reform – is a demonstration of the complex fisheries management issues which the UK industry has been tackling for many years within the restrictions of the current CFP.
If you’d like extra reassurance that your seafood is responsibly-sourced ask your fishmonger if the fish is from an MSC-certified fishery.
You can also consult the Marine Conservation Society’s “Fish to Eat and Avoid” list, which is peer-reviewed by Seafish experts
(www.mcsuk.org).
For more information go to www.seafish.org